The title for Lamb Of God‘s twelfth full-length album “Into Oblivion” is part declaration and part a worrying commentary on where the band’s frontman Randy Blythe feels the world is headed. Upon announcing that record earlier this month, Blythe said of the intent behind that title choice:
“Because that’s where we’re heading. In general, the album is about the ongoing and rapid breakdown of the social contract, particularly here in America. Things are acceptable now that would’ve horrified people just 20 years ago.”
In a new interview with Kerrang!, Blythe has added some further context to his concerns. As he also explains, both he and his wife have severely limited their access to the internet and abandoned social media, putting physical requirements in front of their internet access in a bid to reconnect with the real world. Despite this, Blythe does allow himself daily overviews of the world news and more online.
What he does see when he logs in has apparently left him disturbed, as he told Kerrang!:
“I am not happy with the way the world is right now. We are careening towards some sort of crash, and there are people who not only recognize this, but are trying to hasten it in order to profit from it. [With] the distribution of wealth, the gap is getting wider and wider and wider and wider. I don’t just think that’s true: that’s a fact. We need to learn how important we are to one another. Because the super-rich aren’t going to help you.”
He later added, “This is the moment at which empires fall. We’ve seen this again and again and again. So without sounding too doomsday-ish, I think we’re in late-stage capitalism, and I don’t think it’s going to end well.” Pointing to the disaster capitalism that followed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina as an example, Blythe stated, “There are obscenely wealthy people dictating policy, whose only concern is enriching themselves.”
While profiteers came in and bought up the land where people’s homes were destroyed in that natural disaster, the people that originally lived in the affected areas were ultimately priced out of as new more expensive developments were made. As Blythe put it, “These people know that things are fucked up, and their answer to this is to become as rich as they can in order to isolate themselves and protect themselves from the rest of the populace.”
Blythe remains hopeful that disengaging with algorithmic rage bait and reconnecting with their local communities may be one way for society to make some positive progress. He has shared his thoughts on the current state of the world and a lot more related to “Into Oblivion” over at Kerrang!. That record is presently headed for a March 13th release date.
